Health Journalism
Full Review

Reviewed by: Sally Shute-Trembath, Former producer for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Nine and Fox Networks in Australia
Review posted 18 May 2006
Review No. 77

CD-ROM Information

Content: A good training tool and reference guide for experienced journalists wanting to establish themselves as specialists reporting on health issues.
Publication Date: 11 January 2005
Audience: The target audience is experienced journalists with an interest in health journalism. The CD-ROM’s Reference Guide section would be of particular interest to seasoned journalists, health providers, and health community advocates.
Producer: International Broadcasting Bureau, Voice of America
Size: 555 MB
Price: Free
Manual needed: Yes and included
How to order:

Order by e-mail:
E-mail: healthcd@ibb.gov

Order by mail:
International Broadcasting Bureau
Office of Development, Voice of America
330 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20237
USA

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Full Review

Content

Voice of America’s award-winning "Health Journalism" is a single disc CD-ROM focusing on the basic methodology of health journalism. When the CD-ROM opens users can chose to move through the interactive training program "Training Tool" or go directly to the "Reference Guide." The "Reference Guide" includes texts, graphics, slides, and video resources. Simply click the preferred icon to access the material.

By clicking the "Training Tool" users are welcomed to the Front Desk of the World News Service by virtual anchorman Leon Harris. Harris introduces himself as the CD-ROM’s official guide and promises to take users to the Orientation Room as soon as they sign in. It is not clear why visitors need to sign in. Specific details about the World News Service, who they are, and what they do are not provided.

After signing in, users are automatically directed to the Orientation Room, which provides two choices:

1. a computer and mouse icon for users less familiar with using computers; (This option seems to be a wasteful inclusion because most journalists would be more than familiar with these functions.)
2. the program guide, which supports the CD-ROM’s navigation and should be visited first.

The program guide contains a "Travel Bag" icon. Click on this to access these items inside:

• a "Newspaper" icon that transports users to the Front Desk;
• the "Journalistic Notebook" that allows users to take notes from any source and is ultimately where assignments will be written and submitted;
• the "Ticket" icon allows users to travel to conduct interviews and research their stories; and
• the "Compass" icon can be clicked any time to exit the CD-ROM.

The remaining items in the Orientation Room are three academic papers on health journalism:

1. "Health Journalism. What Makes it Different?" outlines the best practices for interviewing for health stories. The paper also makes the point that scientists, government officials, and health professionals may be difficult interview subjects. The author offers a few tips on how to counter this. The discussion paper says health journalists must remember they are dealing with news and information that affects the daily lives and wellbeing of their readers and audience. While this paper contains some valuable tips it does not seem to inspire or encourage would-be health journalists in their quest to write interesting and accurate health stories.
2. "Health is Good Business for the Media" talks about the importance of specializing in journalism and how health stories sell.
3. "The Media as an Ally in Promoting Health" is about the role journalists play in gathering and disseminating information on health matters.

The addition of a brief biography of the papers’ authors would boost the credibility of each of these papers.

Leaving the Orientation Room and returning to the Front Desk, Leon Harris, the virtual anchor, invites users to visit Andrea Rhone, the virtual assignment editor. Ms. Rhone appears, welcomes users, and directs them to the filing cabinet to select an assignment. After selecting an assignment, Ms. Rhone offers a few tips to get started, such as highlighting the importance of preliminary research and injecting primary sources into stories. Ms. Rhone terminates the exchange by directing users to the library, accessible via the Front Desk.

The library is filled with a range of resources suitable for researching health stories: videos, slides, and documents. Users can take them on location to help them write their stories.

After traveling to their story location via the "Ticket" icon in the "Travel Bag", users are asked to write their print, radio, or TV assignments into their journalistic notebooks using the resources selected. On completion, assignments are submitted by clicking the "Submit to Editor" button. As soon as the assignment is submitted, Andrea Rhone, the virtual assignment editor appears and says, "I know you’ve had a lot to cover, let’s go over some of the essential points." Her valuable tips for writing good health stories include writing clearly, checking all the facts, and inserting powerful, accurate quotes in the story. This is the next best thing to her actually assessing your work. The news editor’s advice is not specific to reporting on health stories and may be applied to all types of journalism.

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Use-friendliness and Navigability

The CD-ROM is easy to navigate, provided the two-page instruction booklet enclosed in the CD-ROM’s packaging is read before starting. Failure to do so may lead to a time-wasting trial and error journey clicking through the CD-ROM’s many interactive features. Each time I used the CD-ROM I found the requirement to sign-in was pointless and annoying. When I signed in it automatically directed me to begin where I had left off.

The "Travel Bag" icon is key to users navigating their way around the CD-ROM. Users should become familiar with it and its contents as soon as possible. The CD-ROM may be used in the classroom or for individual learning.

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Interactivity

The CD-ROM’s many interactive features make the training it offers real and compelling. The virtual newsreader and assignment editor help users move through the material. They also encourage users to be disciplined and professional in their approach and submit their assignments in real time.

The video vignettes and sound bites are attention-grabbing and help users to engage with their research material. This will hopefully lead to more interesting assignments being produced.

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Distribution

This CD-ROM is free from Voice of America. (See ordering information above.) The packaging also generously invites users to reproduce and distribute the CD-ROM as widely as possible.

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Sustainability

To extend its longevity the CD-ROM should be updated every three to five years to allow for changing trends in health reporting. For example, right now it is fashionable to report on the possible cures and latest treatments for breast cancer. HIV/AIDS related issues also receive a lot of attention in the global press.

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Comment(s)

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1. Hadi Purnama
   (posted 09 November 2006 / 05:42:42 PM)
   
   Bandung, November 9th, 2006
   
   I have read Health Journalism review on ADBI site recently. That's interesting accordingly related with my background education, Communication Science. The article give me a broad perspective about journalism. This specialty has not developed yet in our country. Regards
   
   
   Hadi Purnama